Sunday, April 12, 2009

Russia's Quest for a Streamlined Military

David Sibley

In the far eastern port town of Vladivostok, a rally of some three hundred people protested the implementation of Russia's new military reforms which seek to streamline the military. Its not that the protesters disagree that reform is needed but that the reform is ill conceived.

The reform dismisses six out of every ten officers, and disbanding nine of every ten army units, and instead the army itself will be made up of smaller brigades. This reform is supposed to eliminate the inefficient and bulky soviet era structure of the military. According to the Kremlin the discharged officers will be granted state apartments and all the social benefits for their service, however the Kremlin has failed to deliver these sorts of problems in the past which is one reason for the protests.

The military is so opposed to the new reforms (especially since the reforms are putting people out work amidst growing unemployment and economic difficulty) could lead to an open revolt against the Kremlin.

The military situation in Russia should be watched carefully by other nations, since the destabilization of such a large nation could help spark of similar situations in nearby countries, that rely on Russian support that would be unable to come in case the the country becomes embroiled in a power struggle between the the two most powerful institutions in the country.

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